Health Benefits, Antioxidant Activity, and Sensory Attributes of Selected Cold-Pressed Oils

The document discusses the health benefits, antioxidant activity, and sensory attributes of six different cold-pressed oils (CPOs): linseed, pumpkin, milk thistle, rapeseed, camelina, and sunflower. The oils' health benefits and antioxidant activity are largely determined by their fatty acid, tocopherol, and sterol profiles. Cold-pressed rapeseed oil (CPRO) had the highest resistance to oxidation due to its fatty acid composition with the lowest polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content (27.94%). Cold-pressed linseed oil (CPLO) had the shortest oxidative stability due to its high PUFA level (68.42%). The study also found that the oils' fatty acid profiles affected their nutritional quality and potential health benefits. The CPRO, cold-pressed camelina oil (CPCO), cold-pressed sunflower oil (CPSO), and CPLO had low atherogenic and thrombogenic indexes but a high hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio, suggesting their consumption could be associated with a reduced risk of chronic diseases. The sensory analysis revealed that consumers preferred the sweet taste and roasted flavor of cold-pressed pumpkin oil (CPPO), while the sensory attributes of CPLO negatively impacted consumer attitudes and purchase behavior.